Category Archives: Economics and the like

The problem with nonprofits

Posted on May 22, 2007 by Ampersand

From an essay called The Revolution Will Not Be Funded; a later draft of this essay appears, I believe, in the book of the same name. The corporate nonprofit structure encouraged by tax law doesn’t just promote financial short-sightedness through … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and the like | 25 Comments

Review: Rosita

Posted on May 15, 2007 by Maia

I went to see Rosita in theHuman Rights Film Festival this weekend. Rosita’s parents were from Nicaragua, but they moved to Costa Rica to find work. Her father worked as a itinerant coffee picker, her mother sometimes joined him in … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion & reproductive rights, Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Economics and the like, Feminism, sexism, etc, International issues, Rape, intimate violence, & related issues | 3 Comments

Positive Trends: Americans Are More Progressive Than We Think We Are

Posted on May 6, 2007 by Ampersand

From Ruy Teixeira, via Ezra: Given that virtually no important politician in America would dare support a guaranteed basic income in public, it’s interesting that most Americans favor a guaranteed basic income of some sort. And let me add this … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Economics and the like | 15 Comments

Why Does This Article on Tween Girls and Shopping Bother Me So Much?

Posted on April 23, 2007 by Rachel S.

I read this in the New York Times yesterday, and it didn’t sit well with me. Here is a quote: But on this day I’ve come not to bury Abercrombie. I am here to observe my daughter and her two … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and the like, Gender and the Economy, Media criticism, Popular (and unpopular) culture | 37 Comments

Silly – poor people don't get choices

Posted on February 4, 2007 by Maia

Brownfemipower has a really interesting post about the governer of Texas’s decision to make the HPV vaccine compulsory for all girls sixth grade or above. This would also make the vaccine available for free for those who were uninsured or … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion & reproductive rights, Economics and the like, Feminism, sexism, etc | 127 Comments

The Minimum Wage In Washington And Idaho

Posted on January 12, 2007 by Ampersand

From The New York Times, via The Economist’s View blog, we learn that small business owners in Washington state have not been harmed by Washington state’s relatively high minimum wage — not even businesses in tows that border Idaho, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and the like, Minimum Wage | 17 Comments

Young Black Men, The Economy, Crime, And Punishment

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Ampersand

Via Ezra, an interesting interview with Bruce Western, author of Punishment And Inequality In America. Here’s a couple of sample quotes: What were some of the striking elements of your research? There were two things that I found particularly striking. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and the like, Race, racism and related issues, Sexism hurts men | 1 Comment

Cartoon: How Republicans Fight The Minimum Wage

Posted on November 28, 2006 by Ampersand

This one was printed in Dollars and Sense months ago… it’s already dated now, given the results of the elections earlier this month. (Click on the image to see a larger version.)

Posted in Cartooning & comics, Economics and the like, Minimum Wage | 15 Comments

Justice for Janitors

Posted on November 16, 2006 by Maia

More than three weeks ago now, cleaners in Houston went on strike, in an attempt to get the big cleaning companies to negotiate a union contract. Most cleaners are paid on, or close to, minimum wage and don’t get sick-leave, … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Economics and the like, Feminism, sexism, etc, Gender and the Economy, Race, racism and related issues | 3 Comments

It's our fault – for being ignorant

Posted on November 9, 2006 by Maia

The Labour government is obviously committed to doing something about the wage-gap between men and women – they’ve released a study. This study compares the wages in male dominated industries, such a building and painting, with wages in female dominated … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Economics and the like, Feminism, sexism, etc, Gender and the Economy | 39 Comments